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The entire pursuit of spiritual traditions that consider enlightenment Next notice the same thing with what you are hearing. The same is true
as their goal is the clarification of what this observer or aware quality for all physical sensations, including taste and smell. So what is in
of the mind is all about. Some questions to consider: Is the observer of your mind has no effect on the functioning of the five senses. The five
thoughts a thought itself? Is this observing awareness a function of the senses are there by default, without requiring the mind’s permission,
brain, or is it something that exists independent of the body and brain? just like your skin.
Since it can observe thoughts as though independent and separate from
thoughts, does that mean this observing awareness is not conditioned Another factor of consciousness that is present in perceptual
by the mind’s activities? experience is the observer of experience, which we have been
discussing. Someone or something is aware of the raw perceptual
By reviewing and repeating the above exercises with these questions experience of the five senses. Let’s call it awareness. It is your
in mind, it may be possible to gain a greater experiential and intuitive observer from previous discussions, the observing knowingness that
insight into the nature of consciousness and being. We need to realize you actually are. This awareness doesn’t occur after the fact, like the
that we are that observing awareness; we are not the observed thoughts thinking mind; it is present in the first perceptual moment of
or images. experience. So it is not the mind or thoughts, it is also pre-mind. And
what we mean by mind are the functions of thinking, memory, and
As we examine the nature of this awareness we find no fixed imagination. This witnessing awareness also is present when the mind
qualities other than this capacity to observe. It’s always in the now, is evaluating and interpreting perceptions as they occur. And it
observing. Even when we are engaged in memories, that which is continues to be present after thinking and perceptions have ceased as
observing the memories of “then” is in the current moment of now. well. In total stillness of mind, awareness is still aware—aware of the
We sometimes say that when we are engaged in a memory, our mind is “still state.” So we can safely conclude that awareness is not dependent
absorbed in the past. But the memory is occurring now, as a freshly on the mind, thoughts, or mental images. Like the five senses,
created mental image based on past experience, and the observer of awareness is there by default, just like the marrow of your bones.
that memory is always in the present. We can also notice that quality
of changeless observing when regarding thoughts of the future. The more we remain in the awareness mode of just observing inner
and outer phenomena, the more a sense and certainty of being arises.
Awareness is always in this current moment; there is no other option. The1 unchanging-nature of awareness is a state of being. It is our calm
The unchanging, observing awareness is present not only as the and quiet corner. It is our true unchanging beingness, the same generic
perceiver of thoughts and mental phenomena but also as the perceiving sense of being we had as young children, teenagers, young adults, and
awareness of sensory and perceptual experiences of the “outer world.” who we are today. When we look back at our earliest years, it seems
Within our embodied existence, we have five senses. What we don’t we have never not been ourselves. Who else could we be? We may
recognize is the nature of those five senses. The experience of the five have all sorts of self-definitions regarding who we believe we are, but
senses is always free from our conditioning, thoughts, and stories. there is still an underlying sense of just being someone as an existing
conscious presence that doesn’t change over time. Many elderly of living in the world. Intention first manifests as thought, the idea to
people have shared that they feel they are the same person as when he intended. Action arises from the intention to do something.
they were young. Our roles may change, but the awareness that It’s important to get a handle on understanding the nature of our
is experiencing those roles does not. Undefined beingness has a intentions. Often our suffering is caused by intending to resist some
permanent quality of awareness. If we recognize fully what that aspect of reality or life situation. We create our own suffering by
beingness is, in all its spiritual ramifications, and as seen from intending things to be different than they are. We then become
that perspective, we would be enlightened. frustrated by our intentions not coming to fruition.
Most basic is our sense of existing as a being. That quality of being or We feel let down or depressed by things not turning out the way
existing does not appear to depend on anything material in terms of we intended. Our entire day is “run” by intention. A profitable
how we look, feel, or act. It also isn’t affected by our mind or how we endeavor could be to question yourself throughout the day about
think of ourselves. The phrase “I think, therefore I am” does not reveal your intentions. For example, notice how many emotional states
what precedes the thinking. We don’t know we exist simply because are related to the intentions we generate. Clarity on this topic can
we think; we know we exist because we are aware. Thinking is no bring great relief when we realize exactly what we are creating for
more a validation of existence than the five perceptual senses. So ourselves by our intentions. In fact, our entire world view, positive
thinking is not the proof. The awareness that we are thinking, feeling, or negative, is based on our thoughts and intentions. Keeping that in
or perceiving is our proof of being. Awareness is more fundamental. mind, let’s look at what is noticing these intentions and thoughts.
To be is to be aware. To be aware is to be. Awareness is intrinsic to
our being. Take a moment and look at your thoughts and intentions as they arise
and fade away. In the moment of noticing the thought, suddenly place
If we spend any time contemplating or just noticing our mental your attention on yourself as the observing awareness. What happened
processes we may notice that in moments of stillness, free of thoughts, to the thought or intention when you suddenly focused on you, the
there is a naked and clear sense of aware beingness. From that basic observer? If you work with this a bit, you notice that when you
sense of being we easily notice that it is always aware. We also notice successfully place your attention on yourself as the observing
that there appears to be a power of attention with which we create the awareness, the thought vanishes, just as we noticed earlier with the
style of our experience. For example, we can direct our attention to image of the dog. This is a key to what is known as the self-liberation
negative thoughts, and by focusing further on negative thoughts we of thoughts in certain Tibetan Buddhist meditation traditions. Through
develop negative moods and emotions. this method we release ourselves from emotional and psychological
sufferings. The most important element to this method is the power of
We can also focus our attention on positive thoughts and experience attention. We shift our attention to this pure observing quality of
positive moods and emotions. Attention is a power of awareness. The awareness that is the observer or knower of our thoughts. By releasing
power of attention reaches into the physical world of experience too. the attention from the thought, it is no longer being energized. Our
By focusing our attention on achieving some goal in life we actualize attention sustains our thoughts, stories, and emotional states.
that initial thought into reality. Literally all that we achieve through
effort in life is directed by our power of attention. Let’s outline how to apply this practically. For example: sit on a
comfortable chair or cushion on the floor. Close your eyes and recall
So, being has the quality of awareness. Awareness has the power of The feeling of anger. As you experience this feeling of anger, observe
attention. Attention then is the conduit of intention, which is the the emotion and how your body feels. After a short while, bring your
creative pulse that arises from being and enlivens the creative process attention to your awareness that is observing the feeling of anger.
Anger is the object of observation and your awareness is the viewing Attention becomes like a well-trained dog that obediently
subject. You are switching your attention from the object to the sits at its master’s feet awaiting the next direction to act. In most
subject. Notice what changes as you do this. In most cases, the anger of the Buddhist teachings such as Zen and certain Tibetan traditions,
subsides or disappears. As you gain proficiency with this, try it again, this passive but vividly alert “resting and relaxing of attention within
but this time with the feeling of sadness. Then try it with the feeling awareness” is the practice. It’s not enlightenment, but it is the context
of fear. Then try anxiety. Think about what emotional states seem to in which much deeper realizations and insights develop and arise
be most challenging in your life experience, then do the exercise with spontaneously. As this practice becomes stable, you simply continue in
each one. Hopefully by engaging in this practice you can succeed with and as this natural observingness. When in this relaxed condition the
actual life experiences of negative emotional states as they arise. The mind is clear, attentive, and open. You feel a spacious and transparent
lesson ultimately is that by simply remaining in the condition of being quality of being that is both serene and highly responsive to the needs
a detached observer to negative emotional states as they first arise, you of your environmental and personal relationships.
won’t become your own victim.